TLDR
- Malaysia makes its third consecutive appearance at the Winter Olympics with alpine skier Aruwin Idami Salehhuddin as the sole athlete competing in the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.
- Aruwin is the first Malaysian female athlete to compete in two consecutive Winter Olympics, participating in the Women’s Slalom and Giant Slalom events.
- She is the daughter of Olympian Salehhuddin Ayob and is supported by her family and coach, training in Europe ahead of the Games.
Last Friday (6 February), the opening ceremony of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina took place, marking the beginning of the prestigious event held in Italy this year.
For this Winter Olympics, the Malaysian contingent is making its third consecutive appearance, following earlier representations by alpine skier Jeffrey Webb and figure skater Julian Yee.
Image Credit: Malay Mail
This year, Aruwin Idami Salehhuddin is the nation’s sole athlete at the Games. The 21‑year‑old alpine skier will be competing in two categories, Alpine Skiing Women’s Slalom and Giant Slalom, scheduled for 15 and 18 February.
She is also the first female Malaysian athlete to compete in two consecutive Winter Olympics.
Image Credit: Instagram
The daughter of an Olympian
This isn’t Aruwin’s first appearance at the Winter Games. In 2022, she competed at the Beijing Winter Olympics, where she finished 38th in the Giant Slalom but did not complete the Slalom event. Her appearance at Milano Cortina 2026 marks history once again as she becomes the first Malaysian female athlete to participate in two consecutive editions of the Winter Olympics.
Aruwin, who grew up in Bellingham, Washington, is actually the daughter of another Olympian. Her father, Salehhuddin Ayob, represented Malaysia in the Canoe/Kayak event at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.
Her father isn’t the only supportive figure in her family. Aruwin’s mother, Siti Alphiah Tunggal, serves as the team manager and reportedly often self‑funds her travel to events to support her daughter.
Image Credit: Aruwin Salehhuddin
To sharpen her skills ahead of the Games, Aruwin trains in Europe under Kai Alaerts, a former Olympian who represented Belgium at the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang.
Aruwin’s appearance at Milano Cortina 2026 is accompanied by both her parents, her coach, and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Chief Executive Officer Fong Wan Hor.
To commemorate the occasion, OCM collaborated with Universal Traveller Malaysia to produce a winter apparel ensemble for the small Malaysian contingent.
Featured Image Credit: Facebook, Instagram
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